The one thing that could be expected to militate against the peace of life at Blandings is the constant
incursion of impostors. Blandings has impostors like other houses have mice.

On this particular occasion there are two of them - both intent on a dangerous enterprise.
Lord Emsworth's s secretary, the Efficient Baxter, is on the alert and determined to discover
what if afoot - despite the distractions caused by the Hon. Freddie Threepwood's hapless
afair of the heart.

The first Blandings Castle novel sets the standard for the parade of impostors on the premises.

Click for enlarge book cover

Characters

Ashe Marson — 26 year old American hero who went to Harvard
and Oxford. Writer of Gridley Quayle, Investigator series for
the Mammoth Publishing Company's British Pluck Library
under the name of Felix Clovelly. Physical culture addict and
personal instructor to Mr. Peters. Loves Joan Valentine.
Mrs. Bell — Ashe's landlady in London
Joan Valentine — 23 year old pretty American heroine who
writes short stories for Mammoth's Home Gossip. Had been a
chorus girl in The Baby Doll, a governess and a lady's maid.
Hon. Frederick Threepwood — Bone-headed younger son of
Lord Emsworth who was expelled from Eton and Oxford.
Loves Joan but is engaged to Aline.
(Dickie) R.Jones — 50 year old fat moneylender and blackmailer
Clarence, The Earl of Emsworth — Freddie's wealthy, absentminded father who
paints his museum furniture and bedroom. Went to Eton in the 1860's and was
nicknamed "Fathead." His museum includes such treasures as a Gutenberg
Bible and a bullet from Waterloo. He is a member of the Senior Conservative
Club in London. He loves flowers and is constantly pottering round his
garden.
J. Preston Peters — American millionaire who collects scarabs
Aline Peters — Preston's daughter who is loved by Emerson but
is engaged to Freddie
George Emerson — American redhead in a New York law firm
who wants to marry Aline
Lord Percy Stockheath — Freddie's cousin who had a breach-of-promise case
and lost it
Adams — Head steward of the Senior Conservative Club
Rupert Baxter — Lord Emsworth's secretary who wears rimless
glasses and suspects everyone
Thorne — Lord Emsworth's Scottish head gardener
Lord Bosham — Freddie's older brother
Simpson — Joan Valentine's pseudonym as Aline's maid
Lady Ann Warblington — Lord Emsworth's sister who has lived
at Blandings since his wife died
Mrs. Twemlow — Housekeeper at Blandings
Beach — Lord Emsworth's Butler who has many ailments on
which he discourses voluably in a most ungrammatical way
Merridew — Under-butler at Blandings
James — Footman at Blandings
Alfred — Footman at Blandings
Lady Mildred Mant — Lord Emsworth's eldest daughter and
wife of Colonel Horact Mant
Colonel Horace Mant — Lady Mildred's husband of the Scots
Guards
Judson — Freddie's valet
Algernon Wooster — Lord Percy's cousin
Bishop of Godalming — A Threepwood relative
Billy — Knife and shoe boy at Blandings
Muriel — Lady Ann's Persian cat
Dr. Bird — Local physician at Market Blandings
Slingsby — Chauffeur at Blandings
Chester (*)
Ferris (*)
Miss Willoughby (*)

Synopsis

The first of the Blandings saga. Aline Peters, daughter of dyspeptic
American millionaire scarab-collector J. Preston Peters, is to marry the
Hon. Freddie Threepwood, and there is to be a fortnight-long house party at
the castle, 'a gathering together of the Emsworth clan by way of honour and
as a means of introduction to Mr Peters and his daughter'. Lord Emsworth
has pocketed one of Mr Peters's valuable scarabs, thinking it a gift. And
Mr Peters is determined to get it back, offering a reward, too. Ashe
Marson, writer of thrillers (Gridley Quayle, Investigator), signs on as Mr
Peters's valet with instructions to steal back the scarab. And Joan
Valentine signs on as Aline Peters's lady's maid with the same quest, and
reward, in mind. Ashe and Joan (who are in the same London digs to start
with) are to get married in the end and Aline rejects Freddie to elope with
George Emerson, of the Hong Kong Police, whom Freddie has asked down
casually for the party.

There is more about what goes on below stairs the other side of the green
baize door here than in any other book of Wodehouse's.